Yogesh K Porwar
*India Can Become a Developed Nation Only If Karnataka Continues to Grow.
*Delays in Central Grants Are Directly Affecting the People of Karnataka.
*Our Demand Is Clear:Release Funds on Time and Honour the Commitments Made.
*MPs Must Urge the Centre to Expedite Approvals for Karnataka’s Development Projects.
*Deputy Chief Minister Dr.G.Parameshwara Appeals at the All-Party Meeting of Karnataka MPs in New Delhi.
*New Delhi:Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister Dr.G.Parameshwara said that Karnataka’s development is integral to India’s progress,and that delays in approving Karnataka’s projects are not merely delays for one State but setbacks to the nation’s overall development.
Addressing the all-party meeting of Karnataka Members of Parliament at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi today, he said that time is no longer a neutral factor.Every delayed approval and every grant withheld by the Union Government has a direct impact on the people of Karnataka.
He pointed out that every delay further aggravates Bengaluru’s urban development challenges.Projects such as Metro expansion, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS),Ring Road projects,sewage treatment infrastructure,and urban mobility improvements are critical for managing one of the world’s fastest-growing metropolitan cities.
“When these projects are delayed,traffic congestion worsens, productivity declines, pollution increases, and citizens are forced to spend valuable hours every day stuck in traffic,” he said.
Despite their importance,approvals for Metro expansion, the RRTS,and proposals under the Urban Challenge Fund remain pending before the Union Government.
Dr.Parameshwara said the economic cost of these delays is equally significant.Investors seek stability and certainty.
Delays in infrastructure projects increase project costs, postpone industrial growth,slow job creation,and weaken Karnataka’s ability to remain India’s leading destination for investment and innovation.
He added that the social consequences are equally serious. Farmers are waiting for irrigation. Cities are waiting for drinking water.
Young people are waiting for jobs that infrastructure investments would create. Industries and businesses are waiting for better transportation and connectivity. Every delayed decision postpones opportunities for millions of citizens.
“Ultimately, these delays do not merely affect the government—they affect every Kannadiga.They slow the growth of Karnataka, one of India’s principal engines of economic progress,”he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister stressed that the appeal being made today is of the utmost urgency.These are not merely files awaiting signatures; they are decisions that will determine Karnataka’s water security,food security, economic competitiveness,climate resilience,and the quality of life of future generations.
Every month of delay makes the problems more complex, increases costs,and places a heavier burden on the people.
He informed the gathering that several projects of national importance remain pending before different Ministries of the Government of India.
These include proposals relating to Metro expansion, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), irrigation projects,urban infrastructure,police modernisation, Finance Commission grants, water resource projects, and several other initiatives that directly affect the lives of millions of citizens.
The State Government has also compiled a list of nearly 60 major proposals pending with various Union Ministries, highlighting the scale of pending approvals.
Many of these proposals have already completed all required administrative procedures.Several have also received technical clearances,while others have remained pending for years despite fulfilling the necessary requirements. The continued delay in granting final approvals is a matter of serious concern, he said.
Recalling the recent drought, Dr. Parameshwara said Karnataka had to approach the Supreme Court of India to secure drought relief that the State believed was rightfully due during one of the worst droughts in recent history. This deeply hurt the people of Karnataka.
“No State should ever be compelled to seek judicial intervention to receive relief during a humanitarian crisis such as a natural disaster. In a cooperative federal democracy, this should never become the norm,” he said.
He further noted that despite being one of the country’s highest contributors to the national exchequer, there is a growing perception across Karnataka that the State’s legitimate expectations are not receiving timely attention.
“People increasingly ask a simple question: if Karnataka contributes so significantly to nation-building, why are our legitimate projects still awaiting approval?” he observed.
Dr. Parameshwara said Karnataka contributes more than ₹5 lakh crore to the Union Government through various taxes, but receives only 13 paise for every rupee contributed.
This perception, he said, is steadily strengthening across all regions of the State and among people of every generation.
He reiterated Karnataka’s commitment to genuine cooperative federalism and welcomed every reform that strengthens it, including measures that provide greater recognition to the economic contribution of States in financial devolution.
“However, cooperative federalism must ultimately be reflected in action.Approvals must be granted on merit. Funds must be released on time.Promises made must be honoured and implemented. Commitments announced in Parliament and in the Union Budget must be fulfilled,”he asserted.
He emphasised that every pending proposal represents far more than an administrative file.Each one is a promise of drinking water for a village, irrigation for a farmer, employment opportunities for young graduates, smoother transport for daily commuters, investment opportunities for entrepreneurs, improved public safety, and a roadmap for Karnataka’s development.
“These are not merely statistics.They represent the dreams and aspirations of millions of Kannadigas,” he said.
Appealing to all Members of Parliament from Karnataka, both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha,Dr. Parameshwara urged them to rise above political differences and strongly raise these issues in Parliament, before the concerned Union Ministries,in Parliamentary Committees,and on every appropriate platform to secure Karnataka’s legitimate rights.
“When we speak for Karnataka,our voice must be one. History always honours leaders who rise above politics to protect the interests of their State.
Let us work together to ensure Karnataka receives the attention, approvals,and support it deserves—not as a favour or concession,but as its constitutional and national right,”he said.
Concluding his address,he said:
“Only a strong Karnataka can contribute to a strong India.A strong Karnataka is the foundation of a strong India.”
